3D printing is a wide growing technology used in a huge amount of applications every day from education and architecture, to product and design. The one more reason behind their popularity has been the affordable price big brands offer for various models. Now you can easily find easy to use and high performing 3D printing machine at an affordable price in the market.
However, you must have to consider some essential things when buying a 3D printer. In this article, we have discussed a few important factors you should know to get the right value for your hard-earned money.
Types of 3D Printers
There are various types of 3D printing technologies used in industries to build 3D structures and objects. The technologies, materials and other factors including quality and price differentiate them for various purposes. Out of all those technologies, the two common types of 3D printers are FDM and SLA.- FDM (Fused deposition modeling) is the most commonly used technology in 3D printing. The FDM printers built an object from the very bottom up by extruding and heating the plastic filament. In this technology, the printing time depends upon the size of the model. FDM 3D printers are affordable and widely used in various manufacturing industries.
- SLA (Stereolithography) is a fast prototyping process where the plastic is not forced out. SLA 3D printers use versatile technology which is completely different from FDM printing. In this technology, liquid plastic has used that turn into a hard layer until the project completion. At the end of the process, the item has been rinse with a chemical to remove any excess resin. This 3D printing technology is widely used in the medical, automotive and aerospace industry and also great for home users.
1. Print Speed
Print speed is an important factor to consider when buying a 3D printer. You might be thinking that fast 3D printers are better but it's not true. Remember that faster the speed, low will be print quality. So, it's important to keep in mind what kind of projects you want to develop.Print speed can be determined based on the type of parts you want to print. For example, if you want to print large and high-quality objects, then slow speed will be a better option.
2. Resolution
Resolution is defined as minimum detail and layer thickness which is measured in dots per inch. When you look for the resolution in a 3D printer, make sure you know what kinds of objects you are planning to print. For example, if you want to print models with fine details, smooth surface finishing and high accuracy, you should consider a high-resolution 3D printer.However, they take a long time to complete the process as the print head require more layers to deposit.
If you are new in 3D printing, we recommend you to go for low resolution because they finish the printing process in less time. However, you may have to deal with some thick and visible layers in the project.
3. Price
The price is an important aspect when it comes to buying a 3D printer. Basically, it depends on various factors such as print quality, size of print material, types of filaments used for printing and much more. If you are a novice, then you might not be expecting to print large objects. In that case, you can opt for a budget 3D printer that are easily available in the market in the $400 to $1,000 range.
However, if your priority is to produce high-quality objects then buying a professional 3D printer will be a wise decision. They will cost you pretty high, but the value you get will be excellent. If you are looking for buying a 3D printer according to your budget, here's a guide that will help you to find the best 3D printer as per your needs.
Nowadays, most of the 3D printing machines offer automatic calibration. However, you have to spend a few extra dollars on it but this feature makes it worthwhile.
4. Print Bed Size
Print bed size is another important factor you should look for. It all depends on what size of objects you want to print. A large print bed can allow you to print more in one time. This is important because setting up 3D printer consumes more time so a large print bed can save a lot of your time. However, the larger will be the size of the bed, the cost of the 3D printer will be more. But, a large 3D print bed allow you to print bigger objects.5. Auto Level
If you are a novice in this field, then the auto-level 3D printer will be a great choice for you. It allows you to change the build surface without reconfiguring your machine. On the other hand, the manual bed leveling is a tedious and time-consuming process where you have to manually adjust the distance between the print nozzle and bed to keep it uniform. Additionally, you'll have to repeat the process after several prints to realign the print bed.Nowadays, most of the 3D printing machines offer automatic calibration. However, you have to spend a few extra dollars on it but this feature makes it worthwhile.
